How often should I clean my hamster's cage for a happy, healthy pet?

Well, the website say yes. But trying to mask the odor of urine probably means you just need to clean the cage more often. The ammonia in urine can be very harsh on the lung tissue, and the hamster is living at the level of the fumes. Hamster cages just need to be spot cleaned daily to remove the urine soaked substrate. Good luck.

Yes, it is safe to clean the cage now. I suggest you only do a partial clean. You can clean it fully once you have weaned the babies away from their mom which should be done between 3 and 4 weeks of age.

I am sorry for the loss of your hamster. A clean, warm, stress free environment is critical to the health of any pet. Stress can predispose a hamster to serious infection. Provide a healthy diet and plenty of chew toys to keep teeth worn down. Your veterinarian can trim teeth if necessary. Regular veterinary checks are also strongly recommended.

Hi Chase! It sounds like Henry is off to a good start with a very caring owner. Bedding changes depend greatly on what you are using, however newspaper/paper towels should be replaced daily, and the cage itself should be wiped down weekly or if you see any build up of fecal matter. Most pet stores will carry bird cage cleaners that help break down stuck-on fecal matter and make it easy to clean. You can also use a weak soap solution as long as you rinse it well after, or even just hot water and a little elbow grease to keep the cage clean if Henry is otherwise healthy and doing well.

As long as Sandy is still eating and drinking normally I would not be too concerned. If she stops either of these behaviors then I would recommend taking her to the veterinarian to be evaluated. I think it is very likely that she is stressed because of her new cage/environment. Continue to try and interact with her as you normally do, offer her her favorite treats and toys to help her feel more comfortable. Also, if you got a new substrate (bedding) to go with the new cage this could explain why you are smelling her urine and feces more strongly. If Sandy stops eating, becomes lethargic, or starts having diarrhea then I would recommend taking her in to see your vet. Otherwise just keep an eye on her for now as she’s adjusting I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Do not use an aquarium tank. A suitably sized (and secure) wire cage with a solid bottom is recommended. HabiTrail and Kaytee have excellent choices for cages. Buy the largest cage you can afford and fit in the chosen space. You can use recycled paper bedding such as CareFresh or Yesterday's News. Aspen shavings or pellets are also acceptable. Do not use pine or cedar shavings as these can be irritating. A commercial diet from Kaytee or VitaKraft can be fed from a ceramic bowl. A ceramic bowl prevents gnawing and tipping. A non chewable water bottle can be hung to provide fresh water daily. Other necessary items include chew toys and an exercise wheel. Find a veterinarian experienced in treating pocket pets and have your new addition examined to confirm good health. Feed, water and exercise daily. Clean the cage weekly. These little guys require very little care and can provide lots of entertainment. Congrats and enjoy!

yes, mice can make good pets if you handle them enough. They need their cage cleaned once a week. Rats can also make very engaging pets. Here is a link that can help: https://www.petcoach.co/article/toys-and-other-environmental-enrichment-for-rats-and-mice/ i hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.